Face masks are now mandatory at Sea-Tac Airport

Starting Monday, travelers can expect a new normal at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport that includes mask requirements among other social distancing measures.

Port officials say it's among the first large airports in the U.S. to move towards a formal plan that will include temperature checks on top of the current mask requirement. It's part of the roll out of measures to keep staff and passengers from furthering the spread of the coronavirus.

"When you know you're going to confined public space, you need to remember your mask," says Ryan Calkins, Port of Seattle Commissioner.

"Just like you wouldn't leave the house without a pair of shoes on, you got to remember to take your mask."

Airport officials will provide masks for travelers who forget one.

Officials have also added more than 200 hand sanitizers around the airport and implemented other social distancing measures like asking people to stand four steps apart on the escalators.

Calkins adds that the airport is now tasked with having a plan by mid-June that will include temperature checks.

He also says that temperature checks could detect about 30% of carriers traveling through the airport.

"They can also serve as a canary in the coal mine for future outbreaks."

This comes as officials work to make it safe for non-essential travel to re-start.

Passenger traffic at Sea-Tac has dropped down to 10% of its usual volume.